Montpellier manage to lure Pollard from Loftus

Handré Pollard of the Bulls during the 2017 Super Rugby match between Blue Bulls v Jaguars at the Loftus Stadium.

News of Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard’s exit from the Bulls is tantamount to a severed artery, and the bleeding is expected to continue unabated.

The Bulls yesterday announced it had lost the fight to hold on to their star player with Pollard set to join French club, Montpellier after this year’s Rugby World Cup.

Last month’s revelation that Bok lock Lood de Jager would be leaving the Bulls for Sale Sharks on a three-year contract was a sign of things to come.

Pollard has reportedly been offered a multimillion-rand per season deal which would have made it impossible for the Bulls or any South African franchise to keep him in SA. The Blue Bulls Company (BBC) confirmed yesterday that Pollard indicated his intention to leave “when a renewal of his contract came up for discussion”.

BBC chief executive Alfons Meyer said Pollard had left an indelible mark on the Bulls since he joined the Pretoria franchise straight out of school.

“Handré has been a true servant for us for six years,” Meyer said.

“He has been an outstanding asset, not only to the teams he played for but also our supporters, to whom he endeared himself from early on with his attitude towards the Vodacom Bulls. He will be missed for sure, but we cannot fault his decision to continue his career in France. We wish him well.”

The bad news of Pollard’s departure was offset by the announcement that former Springbok pivot and Loftus darling Morné Steyn will return for a final hurrah.